Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-01-28
and severa, wounded. who had fastened to

and several wounded, who had fastened to
get across the river, where they could be
saken care of. The enemy did not make
rush at us, as we expected them to; they
seemed to withdraw, but We knew 1t was
only to get something to cat, SO we I'M,
proved the time in feeding our horses and
roasting some corn for ourselves. We were
hardly in our places again when they tired tired
to force our position mounted. A fatal
mistake for them. We hurled them back
with a loss of not less than fifty killed, and
captured thirty horses that ran to us rider
less after we had beaten them back.
This time they took long rest, appa-
rentlv waiting for reinforcements. 1t was
after o'clock when they again commenced
crowding us. Our cartridges were getting
very scarce-two hundred rounds to the
man the night before; now all We had were
in our boxes, and they more than half
empty. Just before 8 o'clock we got word
that the Indiana boys were on the other
side of the river, ready to protect our cross
ing. Lieutenant White Of Company G,
| who had been accommodating, reported that
the enemy was preparing for a grand assault
on foot. Major Stevens asked Major Beard
| to leave him two companies to hold the
| fort, and he (Beard) to take the rest and
| get across as fast us possible. MAJOR
Beard consented, and Companies G and NJ
were the forlorn hope of the Fifth Iowa,
and X and L of The Fourth Tennessee.
The Johnnies came slowly, but they meant
business. We charged them with the saber
| and drove them back. Major Stevens was
| slightly wounded in the shoulder, but he
paid not the least attention to it.
We now left our fort and made for the
river to get over if possible. Major Beard
was working like beaver to get the boys
over, but there were still quite number on
the bank waiting to be carried over in the
boat, which was too small to be of much
service, but it had been worked all night to
its utmost capacity. Now, if We undertook
| to ferry ourselves over, we would be COB
pushed our horses in and swan over. 1
| left my horse and got on the boat and went
back for the purpose of helping some of
| the boys to get their horses over. helped
several of tho boys to get their horses into
| the water. Some of them were bad
swimmers, and consequently were hard on
their horses. One German would have
drowned himself and horse both if he had
not got help. The pursuers were closing in
on us, and all that intended to get over
must work fast. I got hold of horse
and pushed him in and swain him
over. had scarcely got out of
the water when our poor fellows
on the bank of the river opposite were
charged by the enemy, who made great
TODD over them. There were perhaps
thirty, all told, who could not get across
the river. I got out of range of their bull
officer of the Tennessee regiment came up
to me and claimed the horse had brought
over. He said he left him with one of his
company, who said he could lead him over
lust as we'll as not, and so he came over in
the boat.
now started to hunt up my own horse
that l had left with comrade. found
him, but one of the boys had taken pos
session of him, and, as he had lost his
own horse and was married man, thought
il better to let my horse carry him and get
through the woods myself. There was no
wife then to mourn for me if should not
get through,
So 1, with four others, started out on
foot. We were twenty-one days in the
woods, and the horrors of that time will
never forget. To undertake to give any
thing like detailed account of our advent
ures would take weeks of close work. Some
of the comrades are still living that spent
those twenty-one days with me. We final
ly reached our own lines near Rome, Ca.
and started Immediately for Atlanta, where
we found our regiment. One Of the foul
that started with me was captured after
being wounded, and taken to Andersonville,
where he died. Soon after rejoining the
regiment we were ordered to report to Cen
eral Fitzpatrick, which we did, and in few
days participated in the battle Of Jonesbor-
ough. D. L. KNIGHT,
Corporal Company G, Fifth Iowa Cavalry.
i CnIEAX Iowa.